Living Forest

by Lyle, Travis

  “I’m Hollister Wolf’s Attorney, and you can’t keep me out of there.”

  The female’s voice echoes through the hospitals P.A. system.

  “Code Green, ICU room seven.”

  Code Green meant to call the police and tell them where to go, but little did the nurse know that a Deputy Sherriff has been in the room since he brought Hollister there.

  Hearing the sound of a sliding door open, someone quickly gasps for breath. It’s the attorney as he’s taken by surprise. He didn’t expect to be standing nose to abdomen with the massive Delaware County Deputy so soon.

  Words echo through the room as the deputy is trying to reassure the nurse of his duties,

  “I can handle this.”

  The female nurse’s tone changes to more of a shocked sound which I can tell by the pauses as she speaks these three words,

  “Cancel… Code, Green.”

  The sound of the attorney clearing his throat broke their short lived moment of silence. The attorney’s voice is very rude, expressing exactly how unhappy he is right now.

  “Good afternoon, my name is William Peaks. I’m Hollister’s family attorney.”

  The Sherriff barely gets six words in before William nearly explodes.

  “Good day to you Mr. Peaks.”

  Speaking rambling words so fast, I nearly can’t understand what William is saying.

  “What did ya’ll do to one of my main clientele? You should be ashamed of yourselves, and I’m ashamed of this department. You have no dignity SIR! You stand by idly and allow Mr. Wolf to be placed in such harm. Being a prime example of the law, you’re lacking training that could’ve prevented much pain and suffering caused to my client. This behavior is profound and I’ll not rest until my client has been fully protected and compensated for his injuries. Badges should never be given by opening up Cracker Jack boxes.”

  The deputy becomes highly frustrated, now speaking austerely.

  “Now you just wait a second here Mr. Peaks. There’s no need for such hostility towards me. I’m doing all I can to help Hollister, but it’s Hollister who was driving over ninety miles per hour, endangering the lives of hundreds of people.”

  The Deputy is quick to state this knowing there’s more to this story than either of them know. The sounding of a breath inhaling deeply is heard. I know it’s from the long winded attorney slash golfing buddy of my fathers. Flinging my right arm towards the sound of the two of them, the handcuffs cause a loud clanging grasping both of their attention. They both quickly approach me asking questions and nearly arguing. The Sherriff wants to know what happened, and the attorney is telling me not to say anything.

  The doctor hears the commotion from the hallway and hustles back into the room. Handing the deputy a pen and paper, a sigh is heard in the doctor’s voice acting as if he feels like he’s running an adult daycare center.

  “What’s wrong with you two? Hollister’s jaws are wired shut. Here, take this if it helps. This is the only way I feel he’ll be able to communicate with either of you.”

  The deputy hands me the pen and paper. Making writing anything nearly impossible while handcuffed, because I can’t see from the side I’m cuffed to. The doctor says,

  “If you take the handcuffs off, Hollister could probably write better since he’s blind on that side.”

  Accepting the doctor’s advice, the deputy takes the handcuff off of me. The first page, I write down two words and show it to the doctor. Two words are simply stated,

  “Thank You.”

  Ripping that page off, I write one word showing it to my attorney.

  “SHHHH”

  What I wrote to the both of them was simple compared to what I have to write to the officer. This wouldn’t be that challenging if it wasn’t for the fact that I can’t see from the left side of my face.

  Grasping onto the pen I write down,

  “save amanda”

  Giving that to the Sherriff I write down next,

  “elizabeth killed jim,”

  Before I can hand the Sherriff that piece of paper, he’s out the door and calling the dispatcher. The attorney tears off that sheet to see what I’d written. Muttering comes from William,

  “Oh my Lord, Jesus have mercy. Did you see all of this happen?”

  I reply by writing on a blank sheet of paper.

  “Yes, she tried to kill me.”

  William’s hands are trembling by the time he grabs what I’d just written. Hastily he speaks,

  “I procured you as one of my own until you are eighteen, but I’d like you to stay until you’re at least twenty-one. I know I was going to let you live like you wanted to, but after these current events Hollister; I find it best if we leave this State for now until we get all the legal matters settled. I‘ve actually already done so, and when you’re ready son… we’ll be on the next flight back to Mississippi.”

  I’m a little shocked by what I just heard. I have very little time to react before William speaks again.

  “Now, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but in my defense I care about you as if you’re one of my own. I still miss your father and mother dearly. I’m sorry. I know you don’t want to hear that. It’s the reason you were so persistent in leaving in the first place. All I’m asking Hollister is for you to just leave your stuff here, it’ll be fine, and come live with me for a year or more so I know you’ll be safe before you decide to return back.”

  Though William talks fast, the sincerity in his voice feels like that of an Uncle or a caring God Father. I’m feeling better. Well… maybe not better, but I’m well drugged so I’m too loopy to feel anything. I think Mr. “long wind” Peaks has finally calmed down enough for me to write.

  “I’ll go with you as long as you find Amanda.”

  I gave him this piece of paper and continue to write.

  “I do want to grab a few things from grandpa’s house.”

  Willing to do anything right now to convince me to leave, William asks,

  “Who is Amanda?”

  With his full attention, William is reading as I’m writing.

  “Amanda is Elizabeth and Jim’s daughter. I need to know if she’s alive or dead.”

  Rushing out of the sliding glass doors he says in a hurry,

  “Okay, I’ll go talk with the Deputy, and I’ll be right back.”

  A few moments later William enters the room, but in a more confused manner. He asks as if something’s wrong,

  “Hollister… how is it that you know Amanda?”

  The only thing I can think of at this moment to write down is,

  “I went to school with her.”

  I can hear a near sigh of relief in his voice. Now sounding like everything’s fine,

  “The officer will be right in to talk with you.”

  The deputy walks into the room, ducking down a little as he does for any door because of his height, he approaches my bedside. Gravely speaking,

  “I’m truly sorry that all of this has happened to you. You were never given the chance to tell us what was happening. Elizabeth did kill Jim. One of my deputies suffered some minor injuries trying to pull Elizabeth away from beating on him. She was shot and killed in the process during the attack on another deputy.”

  His tone is very apologetic though quickly changes to concern.

  “Hollister, Amanda has been dead now for two years since yesterday, and we think that’s part of the reason for Elizabeth’s insanity. She was murdered by a serial killer driving through McDonalds when she got off of work one early morning. We searched for nearly a year before her body was recovered.”

  The doctor walks in front of both of them and firmly says,

  “Now if the both of you gentlemen follow me, I have forms I need signed. Mr. Wolf will be sore for a while with the loss of his left eye, but as these documents state, he’s to be moved to a facility in the State of Mississippi to finish his recovery.”

  I write down one last thing on the tablet for William to read,


  “All my stuff’s packed and ready in the front room.”

  I fear writing anything else, hell I even fear stepping back onto that land right now. What is shocking me the most is learning that Amanda isn’t real. Now I’m left wandering if she’s just my imagination or that of a paranormal occurrence.

  Chapter Four

  William’s voice echoes loudly through my bedroom door.

  “Hollister… time to wake up.”

  Words leave my mouth while still half asleep speaking,

  “Ughh… just five more minutes please.”

  William replies in a firm tone,

  “Do you want me to go get the glass of ice water?”

  My feet hit the floor with quickness. I rapidly say,

  “Wait! What? No, no, no, I’m up and getting dressed.”

  I’ve only let myself get the ice water treatment three times. Each time seems to be more shocking than the next.

  Having something big planed for me today, William speaks in a cheerful tone.

  “By the way, Happy Birthday Hollister.”

  Through everything that has happened these past few years, I still don’t feel up for much public appearance.

  Telling he is back to getting in a hurry as he usually does with everything else,

  “I almost forgot, one last thing Hollister, we only have an hour before your last appointment. So get with the program young man and get in gear.”

  A thought rolls across my mind,

  “William is easily comparable to my mother and I’m not sure how he does it, but the way he treats me and how he likes everything is nearly identical to mom.”

  Normally Mr. Peaks already has the maid bring coffee up to me to coax me out of bed. I found this to be a more pleasing method than dripping ice water. I guess today he let me sleep in because of what today is. He probably was trying to finish his last few preparations for the day. Even though I’m twenty-one, it feels just like any other day for me. I’m no more special than I was yesterday.

  After leaving the house in the limousine, Mr. Peaks couldn’t hold in his surprises any longer. He expresses his excitement with hand gestures and a big smile,

  “Have I got quite the day planned for you son, and I mean quite the day. After you are fitted with your synthetic eye, I have a special surprise which I can’t tell you in just words alone, so this will have to wait for you to be there. I know how you don’t like to go out into public, but this will make you happy.”

  He then quietly mumbles the words,

  “I hope.”

  By now I’m sure you’re wandering many questions that have yet been addressed. Three, almost four years has passed by since the near death experience and when the sharp rock that pierced through the side of Hollister’s face. A quick settlement was offered by the State of Oklahoma to compensate Hollister because Mr. Peaks had made a huge deal over it. The settlement was more than enough in William’s eyes to compensate for the damage. As for any other questions that may lie within your mind, just keep reading.

  Much work was done on my face to get me to look like I once had. Something happened to me from inside of me that horrible day. I don’t fear many things which I once had. Maybe the difference for me now is it took twenty-one years to finally realize what it feels like to become a man. My turmoil is in the past now, no longer able to weigh down my shoulders. This is something like my father once told me, when he’d say it to me it was usually during one of our few heart to heart discussions. His words ring loudly even now.

  “Why change your dreams, when you can change your pillow.”

  I still dream of Amanda and that moment I spent with her on the top of the tree house. To me it was very real. I could feel her, smell her, and even see her. That’s not enough though, from what I was told, Amanda is dead. How could that be? I know my eyes didn’t deceive me then. I guess what my father’s saying is telling me to do, I’m to become that guy in the scary movie that always tries to be brave, but dies fast. I think with me, I’ll minus the dying.

  I’ve prepared myself during the few years since I left Oklahoma. Amanda, or her spirit or what not, made me think of how unfit for survival I really am. Even though I have no desire to fight in a cage, I train with cage fighters during my time back. I did it to feel more secure about myself from being tossed around by a woman like a rag doll.

  Anger has driven me to this point. I change my near suicidal depression into a burning rage of hatred. No matter how mad I seem to get, I take all my anger out on training my body. Even publically, I never show aggression towards another individual, even if the individual provokes me. I simply walk away. Then I spend eight hours punching the shit out of something in my private gym. Maybe not my gym, but William has made me feel more than welcome in his home.

  Now don’t worry about me trying to become an idiotic superhero, or even the dumb ass who thinks he can stop a gas station robbery. I still play by my original rules though now they have been simply modified and expanded.

  Rule one: If you’re put in the position to run or die, always run. Only fight if no other option of flight becomes available.

  Rule two: Only applies if you have to fight before flight. Disarm the opponent any means necessary including taking out vision, which should be your first step because dirt usually lies underneath your feet.

  Rule three: Take the fastest path out of Dodge, BUT drive the speed limit and don’t break the law.

  That’s where I made my mistake the last time. Well… If I didn’t have to follow rule one, I wouldn’t have suffered this to begin with.

  Rule four: Always be attentive to your surroundings, and always pay close attention to the minutest details of everything.

  Think about this rule for a moment. If I was paying attention to my surroundings in the first place, I would’ve grabbed the lamp beside Elizabeth and knocked her out with it. That could’ve spared both of their lives. Don’t worry, I don’t feel like it’s my fault they’re dead. She went crazy on me.

  Rule five: Never leave your girl behind. You’ll regret it if you do as long as you truly care about her.

  Rule six: Be more open to things beyond equations. If it can be calculated, then it has already been calculated.

  Thinking about rule six, discovery is the main point. Continuing my life to reading and learning rather than being that person everyone writes about, begins to feel meaningless in time. Now I’ll share the final rule in my philosophy.

  Rule seven: Interact with others as you’d expect from them, but in the same aspect exact revenge as you’d expect revenge enacted upon yourself.

  Karma can be a wonderful favor in a time of need. Karma can also pay me back for some wrong which I’ve done in my life. Now knowing that I’m more capable of fighting, I look in the mirror with more confidence and self-esteem.

  Nearly feeling whole once again, I express my gratitude.

  “Wow, this new eye does look amazing. It actually moves with my other eye like it never happened and it’s real. Thanks doc, I like it a lot. You’ve done an amazing job.”

  Cheerfully, with a smile upon his face, the doctor replies before assisting another patient.

  “I’m glad you enjoy it. This is my finest work, and I do thank you for your business Mr. Wolf. Enjoy the rest of your birthday.”

  William speaks secretly, but I can tell he has something held behind his back.

  “So Hollister, are you ready for the next surprise I have in store for you?”

  Stating curiously, as lately he has been visiting some special government looking people, I brushed it off then because he just finished the law suit settlement.

  “Okay William, you have me overwhelmed with suspense. What exactly is this surprise? I’m ready for it.”

  With his feet pacing like a child with bladder control problems, William speaks in anticipation.

  “I know how broken up you are about Amanda. You also know how thorough I am in an investigation given the type of profession I just so
happen to practice. The body found was never fully tested, only assumed that it was Amanda. Here, this is why you have to read this. I pulled some strings with the State of Oklahoma. Given the situation this was very difficult for me to do. It did help that you hold major revenue there.”

  Quickly snatching the letter from William’s hands, I pull the letter from the pre-opened envelope and began to read.

  Mr. Peaks, your suspicion’s correct. It does seem that we do have a case of mistaken identity. The bones have been identified as Victoria Hollanbach and not that of an Amanda Mason. Even though Amanda’s family is deceased, the case has been reopened for investigation. We will put one of our best lead investigators on this matter until it’s resolved. Amanda’s biological father does not live in the U.S. and any attempts to contact him have failed.

  We request permission to enter Mr. Wolf’s property to search for any clues in the caretaker’s home that may assist us in completing this investigation. We don’t need anything else than that from you at this time. Once our investigation is completed, you’ll then be notified of any findings from your property if any are found.

  We thank you for your contribution in helping us with the department needs to further our specialized equipment to solve crimes through faster and more efficient scientific methods. We will also keep a regular patrol on Mr. Wolf’s property as requested.

  Sincerely,

  David Killroy, Delaware County Sherriff

  After reading the last few words nearly the only thought piercing through my mind is,

  “Amanda’s still alive.”

  What’s not to say that Elizabeth, being the loon she was, hadn’t already killed Amanda? I remember what Jim said during my struggle for life,

  “Not again, not him.”

  Quickly settling upon my mind,

  “Oh no… could Elizabeth really kill her own daughter?”

  I got to find out what happened to Amanda. Even though four years has passed me by, I know she’s still the one for me. Tears begin rolling down the right side of my face. My voice quivering, I say to William,